It's Me, KP

Big Picture Classes: Ali Edwards + Hello Story Giveaway

Last week I was in Cleveland for work and I had that chance to spend a hot moment with Ali Edwards. I love her. I think that goes without saying because, indeed, we all love her. But that lady, she gets me - and I appreciate her so much. I was able to flip through her Project Life album and I smiled the whole time. I love how the photos combine with the words and the supplies and it really is all about telling a story of what happened that week. Pretty awesome.

And so I'm thrilled to be giving away a spot in her upcoming workshop Hello Story at Big Picture Classes. I cannot wait to get started on this one myself.  Class runs from 7/8/2013-9/29/2013 and the cost is $99. 

What's your story? This summer, say hello to a dozen fun strategies for sharing more of your words, and more of yourself, on your scrapbook pages.

 In her new 12-week workshop, Hello Story, Ali Edwards will introduce you to 12 storytelling techniques—never-before-seen in her prior journaling workshops—that will bring creativity and clarity to both your writing and your page designs. Every week, you get to sit over Ali's shoulder and watch her transform her story ideas into timeless, authentic, story-rich scrapbook pages.

Through dozens of in-depth videos that cover storytelling and design ideas as well as 36+ exclusive layout examples from Ali (12" x 12" and 8 1/2" x 11" layouts, plus Project Life inserts), Hello Story will inspire you to take action and give you the tools you need to tell your own stories with confidence. 

Are you ready to discover (or rediscover) the fun that comes from the interplay of design and words? By the end of class, you may even enjoy the writing process just as much as you love taking photos and playing with paint and paper!

Looking forward to this so much. Click here for more information. If you'd like a chance to win a spot in the class, leave a comment here and I'll draw a winner after the weekend.  Good luck!

Just a reminder there's still time to register for The Phone Photography Project at Big Picture classes as well. 

My ESPN Debut

I always say I bleed Spartan green until baseball season comes along and my blood changes to blue. I love my poor, pathetic Chicago Cubs to death even though they'll break your heart every season. Well, a few weeks ago a friend took me to the White Sox game, since I'd never actually been to US Cellular (worst name ever - let's just call it Comiskey, shall we?) Field before. And he had first row seats behind the dugout. Wowee. 

This is what resulted. Me being shown on ESPN, not just once but a few times, and shamefully captured on the wrong side of town. It's a big offense for a Cubs fan to visit the South Side and there I was for everyone with cable television to see. And also. Yes. I am eating nachos out of a pink plastic helmet. This professed foodie who loves her decadent tasting menus and has dined at some of the finest establishments in the good ole USA, also loves chowing down on ballpark nachos. Eaten straight out of a pink plastic helmet. Why not? Tastes goood.

And so that is my ESPN debut.  We all have one right?

6.11.13 Project Life Update

Back in May I shared a Project Life spread on the Simon Says Stamp blog and thought I'd post it here as well:

It uses pieces from the April + May Project Kit along with a lot of stamps and Galaxy Gold ink. I also used the Chevron stencil to create a card for the spread as well.

The What I Wore card was made by printing out the photo twice then cutting out my body to use as a mask for stamping on the second copy of the photo. The stamp comes from the Happiness Is set. I like how this turned out and will be trying it again!

The spread also reminded me to share that I am on this week's episode of Paperclipping Roundtable talking about documenting something I love... FOOD!  We discuss taking photos in restaurants and also supplies to use to scrapbook those photos. My favorites of course being my Bon Appetit stamp set and Feed Me badges. Necessities for all your delicious foodies adventures. You can listen to the episode right here.

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2013 Summer Manifesto

Summa summa summertime, time to sit back and unwind. Last year I had a really great summer. Strike that. I had a really, really amazing summer. And although it doesn't feel quite like summer yet here in Chicago, I am ready for this year to blow last year out of the water (the water of Lake Michigan. The beach. Where I will be. Every day.)

Following Ali's lead I came up with a Summer Manifesto and am looking forward to crossing these all off the list:

1. Use my passport
2. Late night cocktails at a rooftop bar
3. Night game at Wrigley Field
4. Outdoor movie
5. Eat Johnsonville Brats (lots of 'em!)
6. Take a road trip
7. Make strawberry shortcake
8. Purge my closet
9. Rent a bicycle
10. Attend my best friend's beach wedding
11. Go to the Iowa State Fair
12. Attend a baby shower
13. Eat Rockaway Tacos with my NYC girls

Becky Higgins Now at Simon Says Stamp

A quick PSA for you to share that the Becky Higgins Project Life supplies are now in stock at Simon Says Stamp. It's one stop shopping at its finest. I am super stoked about these kits, in particular the Midnight edition pictured above, which was designed by my lovely friend Liz Tamanaha. Everything she creates is perfection (I mean, have you seen those adorable children of hers?!!) and this kit is going to be well loved around here.

I also added the following to my cart, including a big pack of Design A page protectors:

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While you're at it, you might as well put in some Kelly Purkey products too right? Hit that free shipping minimum and all. Which by the way Internationals, shipping is only $13.50 for orders under $50 and then $17.99 for orders below $150.  I sound like an infomercial here so I'm going to cut myself off but go forth and shop!

A Dinner Party at Chateau Socol

Before I went to NYC last month, my friend James Socol emailed me and said I was welcome to invite myself over to his apartment for dinner on Friday night. I was more than happy to oblige and the next thing I knew it turned into James making dinner for five girls. And ahem, it was his birthday dinner. What a man.

The food was wonderful (it had been months since I'd eaten a home cooked meal) and the company was even better. Nothing beats sitting around a table with wine and catching up with my friends. 

Besides bringing an amazing selection of cheeses, Missy also supplied us with a funny antedote that had us laughing to the point of tears all night long. If there's one thing that I can never get enough of, it's photos of my friends laughing. 

We laugh a lot and we laugh hard. I miss these friends very much. (Apologies to Jess, who also looks fantastic laughing but was sitting next to me at dinner.)

I dream of someday throwing my own dinner parties with delicious cheese, food right out of the oven, bottle after bottle of wine, and of course lots of funny stories and laughing until we cry. Until my kitchen skills rank up to par, I'll just have to keep paying more visits to Chateau Socol, where all of the above seem to come so easily.

Paper Tales with Amy Tan

Just a quick note that Amy and I will be teaching together at Paper Tales next Saturday, June 15th.  We are doing a full day of classes with a mini album class from each of us plus a combined Project Life class.  Info is here and I hope to see you there! I loved the day we spent last year at Paper Tales - the ladies were awesome and it was so much fun. I'm really looking forward to it.

Video: A Look at the Letterpress Cards in the June + July Project Kit

Last week I spent most of a day making a video showing all the contents of the June + July Project Kit and talking about the kit.  Then it wouldn't upload to my computer. So then today I thought I'd just do a short and sweet one about my favorite part, the letterpress cards. And YouTube gave me trouble with a capital T.  Let's just say that for someone who received a BA in media arts + videojournalism, I better get myself schooled on this video stuff.

But here's the (somewhat blurry) video on the cards because I would like you to see the ombre effect we've done. I love it very much.  

A very limited supply of kits are still available here.

Boston Strong Hero Arts Stamp

I've got a special stamp to share today - this one is made by Hero Arts and all of the profits are being donated to OneFundBoston.org in support of the 2013 Boston Marathon tragedy.

Kate Farricker (the owner of Absolutely Everything near Boston) and Hero Arts have teamed up to create a "Boston Strong" stamp to raise money and spread feelings of support for those affected by the Boston Marathon bombing. The stamp is only $8 and the profits go to The One Fund: Boston. You can go HERE for more information and HERE to buy your stamp!

I have a lot of friends who are amazing marathon runners and so the events in Boston definitely touched my heart. I'm thankful that Kate and Hero have come up with this great way to send some support.

Thanks to my friend Jennifer for sharing this with me and click here for more info!

New Products and Some Neon

Saturday I Instagrammed a shot of an exciting package I got in the mail from Simon Says Stamp... new stickers and stamps! Because I design the products fairly far out I tend to forget about them (and be focused on what's next) so I'm always excited to see the physical product.  I was also really excited because I'd placed an order for some new products in the shop I've been waiting to try as well. 

When I was in Newfoundland I was lucky to watch Sara Case Strickland teach a class and she used the Tim Holtz Distress Paint in Picket Fence. Watching what she did with it and stamps was super cool so I added it to my order. I also picked up the Neon Pink Hero Arts Paint Dauber. This one just looked too fun to pass up. I paired these with my Triangles Stencil, putting the white down first and letting it dry before adding the pink. Seeing the results I became promptly addicted to both.  Next I want Yellow and Tide Pool!

I figured Austin needed a little bit of neon in my Project Life so I keep going with some washi tape paired with the new stamp sets Calendar, Like a Boss, and Gold Star. I really love the calendar, it turned out exactly like I pictured in my head and now I have so many ideas for using it.

The teal stickers photographed a little lighter than they are in real life... they're actually a very lovely shade of teal that I can't get enough of.  They match perfectly with the Uncharted Waters line from Glitz that hasn't left my desk since I bought it months ago.  Love this line.

More to come using the new stickers and stamps but pick some up for your stash right here!

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